Muliaina doubt for All Blacks

New Zealand full-back Mils Muliaina is a doubt for Saturday's first Test against England after straining a hamstring in training.

Muliaina will be restricted to light training duties on Thursday and the medical team will make a final decision on his availability to start at Eden Park on Friday.

As a precaution, New Zealand have called uncapped Highlanders full-back Paul Williams - son of former All Black Bryan Williams - into the training squad.

Muliaina suffered hamstring problems at the 2007 World Cup and again throughout the Super 14 season.

All Blacks assistant coach Wayne Smith said: "We took Mils out of training on Wednesday. He was getting a bit tight but I don't perceive there will be too many problems."

New Zealand are not only attempting to beat England this Saturday but also earn the backing of many fans who were left disgruntled by the All Blacks' World Cup failure and the subsequent reappointment of Graham Henry as head coach.

New Zealand Rugby Union chief executive Steve Tew admitted this week that the All Blacks need to redouble their efforts to win back the "hearts and minds" of the fans.

However, All Blacks lock Ali Williams believes the anti-Henry sentiment has got out of hand.

"It gets to me how much you can attack one man," Williams said. "You have to look at some of the ownership that has got to fall on us too as players - we didn't score the points."